When Mother Nature Reminds Us

Our family loves backcountry camping. I've camped my whole life, but it wasn't until a little over a decade ago, when Shawna and I decided to do something different on our anniversary. That something, was backcountry camping. Armed with our stand up paddle boards and gear, we did a 2km paddle to our campsite that year and ever since we have been in love with camping this way.

It was much more evident during these camping trips over the years, how much Mother Nature can teach us, if we ALLOW ourselves to SLOW DOWN and just be MINDFUL of what she's saying. I share those thoughts over a few posts, including this first one on the subject back in 2021.

Two years ago, we did our first backcountry camping on crown land. No maintained sites, no rangers to check-in on you or call if something is wrong/needed, no cost, no reservations. Find a spot that's not taken and setup camp. Unfortunately last year we didn't get out due to work and travel elsewhere, but this past weekend we were back with our friends and family in the woods, in a different spot, having new adventures and creating new memories.

"Sure is some storm a brewin'" ~ Bagger Vance from the movie,"Legend of Bagger Vance"

The weekend was a little bit of everything, minus sweltering temperatures and/or smoke filled skies which was a nice respite. We had weather like you see in the picture above, we had downpours, cloudy calm, rain showers, a thunder storm, wind with blue skies and glass like water. Yep - a little bit of everything.

Whenever we camp this way, I come out being reminded of SO MANY lessons and ah-ha moments that Mother Nature so graciously offers every single day to us oblivious humans, who like to stay in our "man-made four walls of tempature controlled paradise". When I began writing this post, it became evident that these are the same lessons I've spoken about over and over. Therefore, instead of re-inventing the wheel, I'm going to share my points, yet again, using examples from this past weekend.

You have to work to get what you need/want

From gathering, cutting and/or splitting wood to building a fire, to cooking, to setting up your tent and other gear, when you're out in nature you GET what you put into it. Here's what I love about it; Movement / exercise is available at every turn, without even thinking about it. The best part is, it always creates an immediate outcome when you're in the outdoors. If I work to gather and cut wood, we get to cook over the fire and/or enjoy one of the best simple pleasures in life; a campfire. If I blow up our paddle boards, I get to go for a paddle on the calm waters, explore the shorelines and go for a fish in some cool coves.

This weekend, walking to our spot to hang the food at night was a trek up winding trails on our point that brought you high up above the water. Do that several times over a weekend and it's easy exercise you don't even think about. And of course, this is while you're carrying things. I also gathered wood from there as well, lugging it down to camp and heading back up for more.

What's even better, there's no thinking involved to create balance. You work and rest so much more naturally in these environments. Work a while, then relax with the gang, laughing, chatting and creating memories.

The sunset following a storm that blew through Saturday around supper time.

Nature is so beautiful

"The nature that we have available to us in Canada is beyond words. Simple as that."

This is what I wrote 5-years ago in my post, and since then I've seen even more of Canada's beauty (which is still only a snippet of what our country has to offer). The fact that we have the options like we have to just gather friends and family and head to the woods for a weekend is unbelievable. Why not take advantage of that??

There is no such thing as "perfect"

Nature is in constant flux, as our we since we ARE nature. Therefore, it's easy to realize that "perfect" may find it's way to you, but not forever. REAL LIFE is anything but constant / static (like our temperature-controlled homes for example). I've shared three pictures here that my daughter, friend and wife took this weekend. What you don't see is that...

-Friday when we arrived we were all in shorts and cut off shirts

-Friday night between 9-10pm around the campfire the mosquitos wanted to join in the fun

-Friday night overnight it poured rain (which we knew it would)

-Saturday we had downpours, showers, cloudy breaks, a storm roll through with wind and massive rains, followed by the sunset in the pic above

-Things were wet and dirty at times. At other times things were dry

- Sunday morning we woke up wearing pants, sweaters and/or jackets.

-We came into camp Friday on relatively calm waters and left in choppy waters that soaked us on the boat ride back to unload

Moments of "less perfect" make those "perfect" times THAT MUCH SWEETER. We often forget this in everyday life. We seek constant happiness and calm. Yet, we can't know happiness and calm without sadness, anger or frustration.

Be grateful for the simple things

Simple is underrated and underappreciated. Sure it's "nice to have" certain luxuries, but we DON'T need them to be happy and create memories. When we go backcountry camping like that, it's the small things that make me smile...

-Our grandson in awe of all the things around him

-Our daughter and son-in-law being awesome parents

-Playing guitar around the fire for my friends and family

-Gathering around a campfire with people you care about

-Laughing, playing, chatting and just being

-Waking up to the loon's call on the lake

-The first sip of coffee by the campfire in the morning

-The first cast of your fishing line into the water

-The surprise excitement when you find the previous visitors left some firewood or built a shelf to use.

-The excitement of scanning the site when you first arrive and finding a great spot for your tent to create "home" for the next couple days.

... I could go on forever.

Slowing down is underrated

I wrote those words 5-years ago, and many times over and it is EVEN MORE NEEDED today in 2026 than over that period of time. This past weekend, my phone was OFF. Yes, off. It stayed in my bag from before we got in the boat, but it was there if I needed in the event of an emergency.

To allow ourselves this time, is to allow ourselves to ACTUALLY live. To be PRESENT and MINDFUL. To EXPERIENCE life, rather than watch someone else "living" or talking about THEIR experiences on our screens. The feeling is so innate to us, and yet so many of us have forgotten what it feels like to experience that (which used to be our norm).

We need to be disconnected. It's okay to be.

As human beings, we are social creatures. But the social construct by Mother Nature's design was within our families and/or tribes. A circle of people who cared for one another and worked together. Today, we've extended our "circles" world wide and interconnected 8 billion people. Meaning when we have opportunities to ACTUALLY connect with the people right beside us, we still feel the pull to connect with those who are not.

This is HURTING our health, our connections and our wellbeing. To miss my grandson holding a toad his dad found, to miss out on the "intricate calculations" of my friend and I fixing up the food hang ropes, to miss out on the sights and sounds of nature around me... It's easy to see why many people are feeling disconnected, not only to others but mostly with themselves.

Mother Nature, you provide a space and memories that I am beyond grateful for.

You don't have to camp like this if you don't want. You can experience these same lessons mother nature provides at a local park, on a hiking trail in the woods, sitting on the dock at your friend's cottage or going for a paddle or swim at the lake or river. The reminders are there for us all.

The slowing down and paying attention, is a practice however, that only YOU can create.